VAS strives to improve MEAP scores

January 24, 2001|By MICHAEL JONES

Vanderbilt's fourth-, fifth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students began taking the MEAP on Monday and will have until February 9 to complete the test. Students will be tested in the following content areas - Fourth grade: math, reading; Fifth grade: science, social studies, reading; Seventh grade: reading, writing; Eighth grade: science, social studies, writing.

The challenge: Improve test scores.

The plan: thorough preparation by both staff and students.

The result: improved MEAP scores at all grade levels.

"The challenge is to help students prepare year-round, not just for the two weeks prior to testing," Supt. Ellen Bonter said. "This requires an aligned curriculum at all levels so our students will have the best chance to succeed. The test is not just recalling facts but is processed based. Preparation is a continuous pro-cess which we have been addressing for the past three years."

One aspect of the preparedness Bonter referred to is to see that what is being tested is also what is being taught in the classroom. "We need to familiarize our students with the types of questions asked on the test and help them to develop test-taking strategies so they can be successful." The district has been working on several strategies for the past few years which address improving student achievement.

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Sue Paquin, K-12 building principal for the past five years, has said professional development for teaching staff is critical to raising student achievement.

"Our teachers have been involved in professional development activities specifically related to improving student skills in the classroom for the past two-and-a -half years."

The teaching faculty took the initiative in looking at ways to improve student achievement. "It is an ongoing process to improve and we are starting to see some changes in our student scores," said Paquin.

"We have received grants for professional development, as well as assistance from our ESD (Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational School District). All of our K-3 teachers will be receiving 35 hours of training in reading and literacy." These are the types of activities Paquin feels will improve student achievement and ultimately lead to better MEAP scores in the district.

Paquin shared some strategies to prepare students for testing which are being used for this year's MEAP. Testing times are spread out for each individual student with lots of breaks on testing days. Testing is scheduled on the optimum days of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Letters were sent home to parents stressing the importance of student preparedness for testing. Teachers talked to students about the importance of taking the test.

For eighth-grade students the state has added an additional incentive. Students who pass the writing portion of the MEAP will have money set aside for college; an incentive similar to scholarship money available to high school students who do well on the High School Proficiency Test.

"I look at it is as challenging to prepare for testing," said Paquin. School officials will have the opportunity to see if their preparation to improve student achievement has paid off once MEAP scores are released later in the year.